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[labcoatgirl]

"Alright everyone in your seats," Betty said as her no-nonsense heels clicked across the front of the room to put a stack of papers on her desk. The college students reluctantly broke up their respective clicks and texting groups.

She puts her glasses on, milling through the bleacher type seats and desks to hand back graded papers. "If you did the extra credit assignment, now is a good time to hand it in. If you didn't, please refrain from doing so." There's a laugh that ripples through the students.

Comments

[infragment]

Will didn't really say when he was coming to sit on Dr. Ross's lecture. He didn't want her to feel she had to do more just because he was there. So he quietly slipped in with the rest of the students and sat in the back. His lips moved into a smile at the laughter of the class.

People never laughed during one of his lectures.

[labcoatgirl]

Betty walked back down to the floor, letting the students have a moment to gloat or whine to themselves about their grades. While she cued up the powerpoint for her lecture. "Now..." she started in, flipping to the right page in her teacher's textbook and smoothing her long hair back behind her ears. Her fingers touching on a faint scar hidden under her hair and making sure not to reveal it. It had been awhile since the incident that caused that. Now it was just a reminder that Bruce was still out there, somewhere. On his own.

She clears her throat, focusing back on the lecture. "Please turn to page 45, I hope that you had a chance to look it over before class." A new slide on the large powerpoint screen.

"DNA, the building blocks of life. Chemicals arranged in a sequence that determine our similarities and our differences..."

[infragment]

Will's smile was growing a bit more. She had the command in the room, the atmosphere so different from his own lecture hall. All of his students paid attention, of course, but the effect was more like when people saw a train wreck: they were horrified, but they couldn't look away. With Dr. Ross, the interest was much more academic. And Will thought, it was probably a little more difficult to hold attention when you were talking about DNA than when you were describing how a person was flayed to death.

He shook his head to clear those thoughts away and focused on Dr. Ross's words. Trying to be a good pretend student, even if he didn't bring any notes along.

[labcoatgirl]

The screen changed to show the typical depiction of DNA, the twisted ladder rungs in different colors.

"It is incredible to think that all of the changes and variety seen among humans, animals, plants, even down to the smallest amoeba can be traced to only four compounds." There's a few shifting noises in the seats, people looking for pencils to write down those four she's about to go over because surely they are going to be on a test at some point.

"These are called nucleotides and they are represented," she clicks the remote to change the slide, "by these four letters. G, A, T, C. Guanine, adenine, thymine, and cytosine."

The next sound in the class is the scribbling of pens and pencils across the page. "The sequencing of these nucleotides create a blueprint for the body itself, one that is used the most during conception and birth along with helping to correct injuries."

[infragment]

As he listened, Will wondered what brought her to this place. Why become a professor specializing in biochemistry? Was it a dream of hers since childhood or did circumstances in her life push her into the vocation? Will certainly never thought he would be where he was now. Yet it was his design, and perhaps this was Dr. Ross's.

He was the only one not taking notes. His memory wasn't as good as Dr. Lecter's, but he was interested in what was being said. He'd probably remember some of it when she was finished.

[labcoatgirl]

Science was her passion in life, if she was truly honest about it. Growing up an army brat with just her General father was what pushed her to find her own way in life. This was what she was good at and what fascinated her. Trying to understand the world around her through scientific analysis.

She probably wouldn't mind if he didn't remember any of it, as Betty looks across the bent heads writing, she spots the one person not taking notes. A smile of recognition comes to her face, trying to welcome him to the class without saying anything to disrupt it or draw attention to him.

"The organization of GATC is called the genetic code and it is a long code to decipher. You have probably seen this picture of DNA before," she indicates the twisted ladder. "But this is only when DNA is unraveled. Usually it is twisted up in tightly coiled bundles, stored within each living cell of the organism."

There's a hand up and Betty points to that student with her pen. "Yes?"

"So which ones can give you superpowers?" The student obviously asking because they weren't really interested in the subject matter other than having cool superpowers. A few students chuckle near him but strangely, Betty doesn't seem as amused by the question. Though she does put on a smile, it's faded somewhat. "Scientists are still working to analyze what makes our hair colors different from each other. What's important to remember is this is a blueprint for what makes a person a whole person. If you tamper with even one nucleotide, you run the risk of mutation and destabilizing the entire DNA structure." How well she knew this but that was not something for class, so she pressed on.

"By show of hands, how many people here have an attached earlobe?"

[infragment]

He noticed her smiling at him and acknowledged her with a returning smile and a nod. He liked what he was hearing so far, and was glad she didn't draw attention to the stranger in the classroom. That question did catch him off-guard. Superpowers? Really? Didn't those sort of things only exist in comic books?

The other students laughed, so maybe that one in particular was just disrupting the class. Because the thought of having super-human abilities was ridiculous. Will dutifully raised his hand along with the other students. He remembered this from biology class back in high school, along with the ability to roll your tongue.

[labcoatgirl]

Betty flicked her own unattached earlobe to show the opposite. "This is an example of dominant vs. recessive genes. When you're conceived, you inherit one set of genes from your mother and one set from your father." Next slide showing the DNA zoomed out to a longer strand that makes an X. "This is why chromosomes are in pairs. Now, lets say...." Betty gets out the electronic pen, clearing the screen so she can write on it.

"The genes for attached earlobes, we'll call them A, are the dominant gene. Unattached are recessive so we'll call them lower case a. In order for you to have unattached earlobes, you will need to inherit both recessive genes from your parents." She writes down aa below the two, connecting with lines to the side. In the middle is Aa and on the other side AA. "If you have both dominant genes, then you have attached earlobes. If you have one dominant and the other recessive, the dominant takes over and you have attached earlobes."

Betty pauses to be sure the class is following so far. "In this case, the genes are called alleles."

[infragment]

Yes, this all sounded just like his class in high school; he didn't need notes on this lecture. Will just nodded along with the rest of the students. Even if it was old information, it was a good lecture. His shoulders were starting to relax, his posture more at ease in his chair.

[labcoatgirl]

Betty goes more in depth on the replication of DNA, mutations, and different terms that the students write down in scribbly noises.

She only just gets in the last of her lecture before her time is up. "Ah, ah!" she gestures at the class who is already on their feet, jamming notebooks into backpacks. She has to raise her voice to be heard. "I want you all to take the practice test number 11.2 in the back of your books and be ready tomorrow to be quizzed on all you learned here today. Class dismissed."

They all chatter as they're clearing the room, sectioning off in their groups again. Betty smiles to herself, watching them go. It did her heart good to teach, this was a good class. The majority had a passing grade and she hoped to have more of them passing by the end of the semester.

She stacked her notes back together, waiting to see if the visitor was going to be staying behind to say hello.

[infragment]

Will waited patiently for all the other students to file out. More than one noticed him as the passed and appeared puzzled, but they walked on. They were probably eager to get out into the sun. When it was empty enough Will rose to his feet and approached Dr. Ross.

"So... superpowers," he said without any segway. "Does that come up often in your classroom?"

[labcoatgirl]

Betty hooks her hair over her ear again as he approaches, that sad smile flickering across her face before she can make it a little more real.

"Superpowers, time travel...Lady Gaga. One has to be prepared for anything and everything." She chuckles, "They were pretty well behaved. It gets a little hairy when discussing the biology behind conception sometimes." Her smile a little warmer now, "I hope it wasn't too dry a topic for you."

After all, this guy takes down serial killers. The inner workings of DNA must be pretty boring, right?

[infragment]

Sad smiles... Oh, he knew all about them. They were on his face about ninety percent of the time. And on Abigail's just as often, if not even more. His heart ached a little just thinking of the girl. He wondered if he should bring her along next time, to let her sit among other people her age and get a touch of normalcy.

"Dry? No, I thought... it was nice. I remembered the topic from high school. You're a good teacher."

[labcoatgirl]

If it was to help someone from Will's line of work, then definitely he could bring her along.

"Why thank you. It's nice to hear that now and again." Betty gathers up her things, turning off the computer screen in the now empty classroom. "Is this your first visit to our campus?" She'll be walking to the lab after this, maybe she could give him a short tour on the way.

[infragment]

Will politely waited for her to gather her things, assuming they would walk together out of the classroom.

"I had to ask directions," he answered. "More than one student thought I was a visiting professor... I guess the tweed confused them." He was attempting to make a joke at his own expense. He did give off serious professor vibes with the clothes and the glasses.

[labcoatgirl]

She tries not to laugh. "I can't deny you do look very academic. You probably could get away with teaching any class here just by stepping to the front of a classroom."

They head out of the classroom into the bright sunshine of the campus. There's a grassy expanse in the middle of campus that has sidewalks running in all directions around it. Betty walks along one of these, aiming for the science building but she's not in a rush. "Where do you teach at? Is it usually by request?"

[infragment]

"The FBI academy," he responded, falling into step beside her. "I was given the position due to my work in the field and in the crime labs. I don't mind it, but it is nice to be out doing other things."

Not talking about death for a change was very nice indeed.

[labcoatgirl]

She hums an affirmative, pulling out her blackberry to check a text message from a colleague. "I can understand that. Most of the people I work with spend most of their time married to their work. Usually they even forget about eating regular meals."

Like Bruce used to...no, not thinking about that. She answers the text and puts the phone back in her pocket. "A crime lab must be interesting though. I hadn't ever thought about going into forensics. And our facilities here are mostly donated and borrowed equipment unless we get more funding."

[infragment]

"Interesting." Not the word he would use. An outsider would find it incredibly morbid, and be shocked at the jokes exchanged over the autopsy table. But making light of the macabre was the only way any of them knew how to function. It created a dissonance between themselves and what they were doing. And really, that was the crux of Will's problem: that there was no dissonance, that he felt too strongly about the cases.

"Dr. Lecter wouldn't let me forget my meals," he commented, to change the subject. "He would make sure I ate, even if it meant inviting me over to his house every night." Sometimes he thought maybe the doctor took too much interest in him, but he knew Lecter's intentions were good.

[labcoatgirl]

Probably the most gruesome thing she's dissected was a frog, but it was still all just biology. Once you got over the fact it used to be a person.

That's more than once Will has mentioned Dr. Lecter. Betty glances over at him as they walk. "That's good he looks out for you." And sounds much more than just a psychiatrist.

"Speaking of eating, it's Friday and usually my colleagues and I order out for pizza. You're welcome to join us if you don't mind eating in the lab?" Nowhere near the samples they were testing, of course.

[infragment]

When was the last time he joined a group for pizza? Probably during his own college days. "I would like that," he nodded. "Thank you for including me."

[labcoatgirl]

"You might not say as much later, but you're welcome." She smiles knowingly as they get close to the building. "We don't get too many visitors, you might find the scientists here a little..." What's the word? Geeky? "...sheltered."

[infragment]

"That's all right," Will assured her. "I think 'sheltered' will be a refreshing change. I spend too much time with 'jaded' lately."

[labcoatgirl]

She nods, reaching to open the door and let him past. "Just don't start any conversations about Star Trek and I think you'll be safe." Betty smirks, "Relatively."

It's a small lab but a clean and well organized one. There's a main section where a few of the scientists are opening boxes of pizza. In another room that can be seen through the window, there are various mice in cages that they're working on meticulously exposing to different radiation levels and injections.

There's a darkened closed off section as well, nobody goes in there for anything other than storage.

Betty introduces her colleagues around to William, knowing he probably won't remember their names. They're all too welcoming, pulling out a chair for him and a slice of pizza. One of them, Mitchell, trying to strike up a conversation about World of Warcraft strategies.

Betty takes a moment to check on her plant samples and then her mice before returning. Hoping that Will won't need a rescue.

[infragment]

He just smiled and followed after her quietly. He was going to be out of place among these people; he could guess that much already. But he didn't mind it so much here. These people, at least, wouldn't see in him the man who connected with killers. Being social is a bit hard for him but he is glad for their kindness, and he gladly sits down.

Will didn't know that much about World of Warcraft but he tried to contribute as best he could. He probably sounded old, harkening back to the days when one used dice to play such games.

[labcoatgirl]

Betty has shed her blazer for a white lab coat, her glasses sitting smartly on her nose as she makes checkmarks on a clipboard. Hiding a smile as she comes near, two of the scientists excited that someone still remembers dice games. "Be careful, they might decide to keep you, Mr. Graham," she chuckles, picking up a slice of pizza to munch on it.

Mmmm, pizza. Best in town, she knows the owner personally.

[infragment]

"I'm afraid they'll have a fight on their hands," Will remarked in as light a tone as he could manage. "Jack wouldn't like it." But he still seemed pleased with the idea that people liked him and wanted him around.

[labcoatgirl]

Steven, one of the younger interns pushes his glasses up on his nose a bi higher sheepishly. "Nobody visits the lab...unless they have class here." His voice nasal, he probably even has an inhaler for emergencies.

Strangely, Betty seemed to fit right in amongst the geeks and smart ones. They didn't treat her any differently.

She finishes her pizza slice and picks out a mouse to weigh him on a small scale. "We've been doing research on different types of radiation and monitoring for mutations."

[infragment]

Will was never sure where he fit in. In Dr. Lecter's high class world, Will was the awkward country boy. At work he was the profiler who empathized with killers. During lectures he was the professor. Always separate. In this scenario he was still an outsider, but there was a collective awkwardness about them that made him feel like they were all being outsiders together.

"It sounds like an interesting study," he commented, nibbling on his pizza slice thoughtfully. "How is your little friend doing so far?" He meant the mouse, of course.